Let's talk about the kid from Pilot Mountain. If you were scouring the 2025 NFL Draft boards looking for a flashy first-round wideout, you probably skipped right over the name Stephen Gosnell. Big mistake. Honestly, the draft is often less about who gets their name called on stage and more about who survives the summer.
Stephen Gosnell is basically the poster child for the "grind until they can’t ignore you" philosophy. After a winding college road that took him from the blue of North Carolina to the maroon and orange of Blacksburg, he entered the pro world with zero fanfare. But if you've been watching the Buffalo Bills' practice squad or caught his preseason tape, you know the "undrafted" tag is just a technicality at this point.
Why the Stephen Gosnell NFL Draft Journey Took So Long
It wasn’t a straight line. Not even close. Gosnell started out at UNC, where he was mostly a special teams body and a depth chart filler. He barely touched the ball. You’ve gotta wonder what that does to a guy's head—going from a high school legend at East Surry (where he accounted for something like 70 touchdowns) to just another jersey on a Power Five sideline.
He didn't sulk. He bailed.
Transferring to Virginia Tech was the reset button he needed. By the time 2024 rolled around, he wasn't just "on the team"—he was the guy. He led the Hokies with 506 receiving yards. That sounds modest until you look at the context: he was averaging 18.1 yards per catch. That is pure explosiveness. He wasn't just catching dinks and dunks; he was tearing the top off defenses.
The Declaring Moment Everyone Missed
Here’s a fun bit of trivia. Most guys hire a high-end agency to drop a cinematic "I’m Declaring" video with trap music and slow-motion highlights. Gosnell? He posted a graphic on X (formerly Twitter) basically saying, "My eligibility is up, so I’m automatically declared."
It was hilarious. It was self-aware. It also showed he wasn't under any illusions about his "draft stock." He knew he was a long shot, but he played it with the kind of coolness that usually belongs to a ten-year veteran.
💡 You might also like: Wayne Gretzky Rookie Cards: What Most People Get Wrong
The Scouting Report: What the Bills Saw
So, if he was so good at Virginia Tech, why did he go undrafted in 2025? It usually comes down to the numbers game. Scouts saw a 6'2", 198-pound receiver with a 4.56-second 40-yard dash. In an NFL that is currently obsessed with sub-4.4 speed, a 4.56 can make you "invisible" to certain front offices.
But football isn't a track meet.
- Catch Radius: Gosnell has these massive 9.25-inch hands and a way of high-pointing the ball that makes him play much taller than 6'2".
- The "Hustle" Factor: Because he spent years on special teams at UNC, he actually knows how to tackle and block. NFL coaches love that. If you can’t be WR1, you better be a demon on the kickoff return team.
- Route Discipline: He’s surprisingly crisp. At his Pro Day, he clocked a 4.15-second 20-yard shuttle, which proves his lateral quickness is way better than his straight-line speed suggests.
Life as a Buffalo Bill
The Buffalo Bills signed him as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) almost immediately after the draft ended.
Western New York is a tough place for a rookie. The fan base is intense, and the weather is... well, it's Buffalo. But Gosnell started popping up in training camp reports almost daily during the 2025 preseason. He was catching everything Josh Allen threw his way. There was one specific catch against the Giants in the preseason opener that had Bills Mafia buzzing on social media—a diving sideline grab that showed he belonged.
He didn't make the initial 53-man roster, which was expected. Buffalo's WR room was crowded. But they didn't let him walk. They stashed him on the practice squad faster than you can say "Go Bills."
The 2026 Outlook
Fast forward to now, January 2026. The Bills have dealt with some brutal injuries at the position—Tyrell Shavers and Gabe Davis both went down with ACL tears recently. This is exactly why teams keep guys like Gosnell around. He’s the "break glass in case of emergency" player who has been soaking up the playbook for a year.
Actionable Insights for Following the "Long Shot" Path
If you’re a fan or a following the Stephen Gosnell NFL draft story as a blueprint for other prospects, here’s the reality of the situation:
💡 You might also like: Players Opting Out of Bowl Games: Why the Postseason Landscape Changed Forever
- Special Teams is the Lifeblood: If you aren't a first-round pick, your ability to play gunner on punts is more important than your highlight reel catches. Gosnell’s background at UNC saved his career.
- The Transfer Portal is a Tool, Not a Failure: Moving to Virginia Tech allowed him to prove he could be a primary target. Don't stay in a situation where you're buried on the depth chart just for the "brand" of the school.
- Pro Day Over Combine: Gosnell didn't get the Combine invite, but he crushed his Pro Day. If you're an overlooked prospect, that one afternoon in March is your Super Bowl.
- Practice Squad Persistence: Most NFL careers are made in the Wednesday practices that nobody sees. Being a "hidden gem" in camp is how you earn the trust of a QB like Josh Allen.
Keep an eye on the Buffalo active roster transactions over the next few weeks. With the playoffs in full swing and the roster thinning out, the kid from Pilot Mountain might finally get his Sunday moment.